Action to Fix Highway Trust Fund Needed by This Summer

On Monday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its latest projections on the fiscal health of the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF). The HTF is the main source of federal money for road, bridge and transit projects and has been facing fiscal challenges for a number of years. Last summer, Congress provided a temporary infusion of cash that will run out, as CBO projects, sometime in October or November of 2015. However, the HTF needs a solid cash cushion to maintain its timely payment process to state departments of transportation for work completed, so any fix to the crisis would need to occur before then, likely by September.

This CBO outlook underscores the sense of urgency among stakeholders who are urging members of Congress to act now on surface transportation programs, before they approach a May 31 legislative deadline. ASCE is urging Congress to provide more robust federal funding levels and greater multi-year program certainty in order to accelerate road, bridge and transit projects and move the needle on our nation’s transportation infrastructure deficit.

ASCE urges the 116th Congress to focus on prioritizing infrastructure upgrades and modernization to sustain our economy, public health, and safety. Contact your Member of Congress to urge them to draft and pass legislation that moves toward closing the $2 trillion investment gap.

Senate Appropriators have allocated funding to the High Hazard Potential Dams Program. Write your Members of Congress and ask them to fund this program so that our nation’s “D” dams can receive the investment they need.